Hy-Vee's reimagined grocery store opens in Grimes
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A food dining hall in the new Grimes Hy-Vee. Photo: Linh Ta/Axios
Hy-Vee's newest grocery store opened in Grimes Tuesday morning, featuring some of the company's latest modern experiments in attracting customers.
The concept: The 93,000-square-foot facility is the company's first venture into a "smart store" — a grocery store that integrates digital conveniences like scan-and-go shopping, where customers can skip lines by using an app to buy their items.
- Large portions of the store are also dedicated to Hy-Vee's non-grocery partnerships, like DSW, The W Nail Bar and Joe Fresh clothes.
What's new: Kiosks are located throughout the store to help you do everything from order a custom cake to buy an elliptical machine.
- Looking for high-end wines? You can find $1,000+ bottles in the store's wine and spirits section, plus a cigar room.
- There's a hot food area that functions like a food hall. Order at a kiosk, sit down and someone will bring out your Hy-Chi.
- There’s no more paper price tags in aisles. They’re digital instead, requiring less labor.
- And yes, a vending machine will even make you a custom salad.
Yes, but: If you want to do things the old-fashioned way, all of the traditional in-store shopping features are still available.
The big picture: Consumers' schedules are packed and our dollars go towards what's most convenient.
- CEO Randy Edeker said this latest store aims to be a one-stop shop that saves trips to multiple stores.
Thought bubble: If we're spending time in brick-and-mortar, experiential shopping is key.
- The store's surprises — like hard-to-find liquors, international candies and even a kiosk selling glasses — keep you looking around.
What's next: Watch out for more Hy-Vee news from us Wednesday.
